Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Protecting the Collagen in Your Skin

As the critical role that collagen plays in our beauty routines becomes more evident, an increasing number of people are deciding to buy collagen-building skincare products. Some are even opting for dermal fillers that will help minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. As well as help achieve smoother and more youthful skin. If you’re wondering what the best way to ensure you’re boosting your collagen production is, here are some explanations, as well as the best tips and tricks for achieving that desirable flawless complexion:

What exactly is collagen?

The most abundant protein in our body, collagen, is formed by the combination of certain amino acids and is the base of healthy, firm, and plump skin. Apart from being the most important factor in wound healing, collagen also gives strength, elasticity, and structure to our skin, making it appear smoother, tighter, and more youthful. It also plays an incredibly important role in replacing dead skin cells to reveal a clearer and more radiant complexion. This is why so many people are eager to improve their skincare routine, preserve the collagen in their skin, and maintain a younger-looking complexion.

What can hold the collagen production back?

Living in the modern age, we are exposed to damaging environmental factors all year round, and our skin is the first one to show their effects. From everyday stress and bad habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake, to unavoidable factors like pollution and harmful ultraviolet sun rays, all of these elements are responsible for producing free radicals in our skin. Free radicals break down the collagen fibers, causing our skin to thin out. 

Over time, our skin starts producing less collagen overall, leading to a loss of elasticity and sagging skin, as well as the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. No matter your age, these harmful factors could have a significant effect on your complexion. Still, you can easily take care of the collagen in your skin by making a few simple changes to your everyday beauty routine.

Reasons to start protecting your collagen now.

When we are young and healthy, our skin tends to have a plump, smooth, and supple appearance. At this point in our lives, the skin tends to work faster and more efficiently, constantly repairing itself, producing more collagen, and giving us that youthful radiance we all strive for. But no matter how well we take care of our skin and how much we protect ourselves from damaging environmental factors, after the age of 35, our collagen gets worn down. Our skin becomes more susceptible to permanent damage, making it harder to defy gravity. 

So if you want to prevent sagging, wrinkles, and premature aging, it’s important to start protecting the collagen in your skin while you’re young. Because the earlier you start taking good care of your skin, the more you can maintain and preserve it during the aging process.

How to improve your collagen production

If you want to start early, slow down the process of aging and achieve a more youthful and glowing complexion, there are several skincare steps and changes you can make:

Regular professional treatments

Non-invasive cosmetic procedures are some of the most common and arguably the most effective ways of maintaining clearer and younger-looking skin. Being the most popular option, booking a professional ultherapy procedure might be the best way of preserving the collagen in your skin and achieving that desirable, radiant glow. 

A type of ultrasound treatment, Ultherapy works by penetrating the deeper layers of the skin using focused beams, where it can stimulate elastic tissue and collagen production, resulting in firmer, tighter skin and fewer lines and wrinkles. Being a non-invasive procedure, Ultherapy is ideal for anyone who wants to avoid going under the knife, while still counteracting the process of aging and maintaining a youthful appearance for a longer period.

Sunscreens and antioxidants

As UV rays are one of the most damaging factors when it comes to the health and the beauty of our skin, it’s absolutely essential to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher every day, no matter the weather or the season. If you want to neutralize the harmful free radicals and reduce the irritation and the inflammation on your skin, it would also be a good idea to include some potent antioxidants into your skincare routine. 

While vitamin C serums seem to be the most popular antioxidant option, formulas, which include vitamin E and ferulic acid, along with vitamin C, might be the most effective. They work together to protect your skin against environmental factors, boost collagen production in the skin, and help you achieve a brighter and more even skin tone.

Vitamin A derivatives

Apart from applying sunscreen every day and using vitamin C regularly, another ingredient that can boost your skincare routine is vitamin A derivatives, such as retinol, retinoid, and Retin-A. Working by perpetuating cell turnover and improving collagen production, vitamin A derivatives are ideal for improving your skin tone and texture. It helps you minimize the appearance of large pores, reduce the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines, and maintain a bright and youthful complexion. 

However, these derivatives are known for being irritating on certain skin types, which is why it might be a good idea to limit the amount you put on to a pea-sized drop every other night or even opt for a very light and mild concentration when you first start using them.

Peptides and growth factors

Acting almost as messengers, peptides “tell” skin cells to boost the production of collagen, while growth factors work by stimulating fibroblasts and stem cells to perpetuate cell renewal and encourage collagen production. While both have been touted for their anti-wrinkle properties, they also might have some advantages over vitamin A derivatives. They are both much less irritating on the skin. 

However, they might take longer to show any results, or the effects could be too subtle, which is why it would be best to include all of them into your beauty routine, using retinol at night and peptides and growth factors in the morning or on those nights you’ve skipped vitamin A altogether.

Collagen-boosting supplements

Even though it might seem too good to be true, several studies have been conducted to support the fact that certain collagen-building supplements have noteworthy effects on the health and the beauty of the skin. A collagen peptide called Verisol has been shown to increase the collagen production in the skin, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, especially around the eyes, and leading to a smoother and more even complexion. However, as with any other supplement you might consider, it’s important to remember that not every type of ingestible collagen can deliver the results that they promise, and even those that do can have quite fine and subtle effects.

While the right treatment might depend on your skin type and your specific skin concerns, one thing is certain, and that is the fact that collagen is the most important factor in maintaining a smooth, firm, and glowing complexion. Your skin should be preserved and protected as early as possible. Whether you opt for potent serums or efficient, professional procedures, it’s never too early to start maintaining your youthful appearance.